12th governor of Minnesota. Born near Bergen, Norway and emigrated to the United States at age 6. Raised in Wisconsin. Wounded and taken prisoner during the Civil War. Returned to Wisconsin after the war and became a lawyer. Served in the Wisconsin Legislature and later relocated his law practice and political career to Alexandria, Minnesota. Served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1875 - 1878 and U.S. House from 1883 - 1889. Elected as governor of Minnesota for two terms, beginning in 1891. During his time in office, he presided over the financial panic of 1893 and the disastrous, 400 square-mile Hinckley forest fire of 1894 which killed more than 400 people. Resigned as governor to accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate where he served until his death. There is a statue of him on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capital in Saint Paul which is sometimes seen in the background of television news bites of Jesse Ventura and others in past years.

Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR) April 30, 1923
SENATOR KNUTE NELSON
Funeral of Veteran Statesman to be Held in Minnesota.
Harrisburg, Pa., April 29. - The body of United States Senator Knute Nelson, of Minnesota, who died suddenly on a railroad train near York, Pa., last night, while on the way from Washington to his home in Alexandria, Minn., left here at 1:03 o'clock this afternoon for Chicago. From there it will be taken to St. Paul and then to Alexandria, where the funeral will be held, probably Friday.
The body was accompanied from Harrisburg by Simon Michelet, secretary to Senator Nelson, and George W. Wells, Jr., of St. Paul, state insurance commissioner, who was on the sleeping car in which the senator was stricken. Mr. Wells left the train here with the body. Mr. Michelet, who was notified in Washington last night of the senator's death, arrived here this noon.
Governor Preus, of Minnesota, who was in New York, was informed of Senator Nelson's death and left for Chicago, where Mr. Michalet said today he is expected to meet the body on its arrival tomorrow morning. He will accompany the party to St. Paul leaving Chicago tomorrow night.
The senator's sudden death was due to heart trouble, brought on, according to physicians, by grippe and colds from which he had been suffering during the winter, and the weaknesses of age. He was 80 years old. The night before his departure from Washington he suffered a sudden attack, and a physician who was summoned advised against his leaving for his home last night, as he had arranged some time ago to do. He insisted on starting, however.